Christmas in the Comics | Christmas with the Super-Heroes #1

For years now, DC Comics has released holiday-themed anthology books.  While more recent titles contain new material, some of the earlier ones are reprints of holiday stories that appeared elsewhere.  The offering from 1989 is one such reprint book, re-presenting stories from these comic books:


Christmas with the Super-Heroes #1 (1988)

Front Cover: John Byrne's wrap-around cover features seven super-heroes.  Wildfire of the Legion of Super-Heroes decorates a Christmas tree.  Black Canary presents Green Arrow with a wrapped present (a bow decorated with a bow).  Superman uses his x-ray vision to try to spy inside a lead-lined gift.  Batman holds a present up to his pointy ears, while Robin ponders a gift shaped like a batarang.  Wonder Girl gazes at other wrapped presents.  Curiously, Robin is missing one of his pointy boots.

"Wanted: Santa Claus--Dead or Alive!" featuring Batman from DC Special Series #21 also known as "Super-Star Holiday Special" (1980) this feature was written by Denny O'Neil with art by Frank Miller and Steve Mitchell.  As snow falls on Gotham City Christmas Eve, Batman attempts to solve several mysteries, including the disappearance of the star from a nativity scene.  The story ends with scripture: "To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace," which is from Luke 1:78 according to the reference, but it's actually Luke 1:79.

"The Man Who Murdered Santa Claus" featuring the Justice League from Justice League #110 (1974)  JLAers Superman, Batman, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Red Tornado are joined by substitute Green Lantern John Stewart in this holiday adventure.  Readers are tipped off to the mystery villain with a major clue on the splash page.  In the Epilogue, Red Tornado is given a new uniform as a Christmas gift.    

"The TT's Swinging Christmas Carol" featuring the Teen Titans from Teen Titans #13 (1968)  The Teen Titans (which included Robin, Aqualad, Wonder Girl, and Kid Flash at this point) get involved in a storyline involving an "Ebenezer Scrounge," "Bob Rachet," "Tiny Tom," and "Jacob Farley."  As if the title and the names of the characters didn't give the whole story away, Aqualad explains the similarities on panel: "Yow!  I dig!  Scrooge... Jacob Marley... Tiny Tim.. It's just like Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol!'"  Much more interesting than the TT's story is the un-credited half-page filler which follows, titled "Cap's Hobby Hints."  For a full explanation, follow down the rabbit hole here.

"Star Light, Star Bright..." featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes from DC Special Series #21 also known as "Super-Star Holiday Special" (1980).  Writer Paul Levitz and artists Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez and Dick Giordano bring a holiday tale featuring the LSH.  How are the holidays celebrated in the 30th Century?  Karate Kid invites Princess Projectra and Sun Boy to Japan for an "ancient tea ritual."  There are fireworks trees on planet Snerl.  On Durla, Chameleon boy remains on active duty because there is no holiday.  Elsewhere on Earth, Colossal Boy celebrates Chanukah.  Meanwhile, Superboy takes Phantom Girl, Lightning Lad, and Wildfire on a quest to find the Star of Bethlehem.  Instead, they find the light and life found by caring for others. 

"'Twas the Fright Before Christmas!" featuring Superman from DC Comics Presents #67 (1984)  When tiny Timmy Dickens is hypnotized by a toy dart gun, Superman suspects the Toyman is behind the scheme.  While investigating in the cold Arctic near the Fortress of Solitude, Superman is knocked out by another of Toyman's nefarious devices.  Superman and Timmy are taken by a band of Elves to the North Pole workshop of Kriss Kringle, the one and only Santa Claus.  Santa, Timmy, and Superman defeat Toyman while Santa's nice toys battle Toyman's naughty toys.  A Christmas gift from Len Wein & E. Nelson Bridwell and Curt Swan & Murphy Anderson.

"The Silent Night of the Batman" featuring the Batman from Batman #219 (1970)  A Batman action figure, a Batman Santa, and a Batman-shaped shadow cast by a suspension bridge inspire people to do the right thing on Christmas Eve, giving the Batman a night off from fighting crime.  His "silent night" includes singing Christmas carols with the Gotham City police, which looks as bizarre as it sounds.  A Christmas mystery brought to you by writer Mike Friedrich and artists Neal Adams and Dick Giordano.

Back Cover: Six boots (there's Robin's pointy green boot!) are hung by a fireplace as stockings.





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